Autumn might be here, but the sun came out for the April races in the 2019 Marathon Series.
It was time to double up on April 14th, with the Doubles Round of the Marathon Series on at Lane Cove. Of the 137 boats on the water 85 of them were doubles, with a fabulous selection of K2s, double skis and rec boats. Acting also as the State Doubles Championships, the event offered paddlers a choice of the regular 5km, 10km, 15km and 20km courses, along with a special 25km Div 1 distance for those working towards Marathon Nationals.
It was particularly exciting to see the event attract a large number of juniors, with the 5 and 10km courses ideally suited to first-time marathoners. Five Vet-Junior doubles paddled the 10km course, showing that family teams are a great way to experience the thrills of a race. Hot shot father-daughter combo Matt and Liberty Blundell even came away with gold in the state championship Mixed Open K2 class as well!
Two weeks later, and the racing headed south to Batemans Bay. The annual Batemans Bay Paddle Challenge is held on the Clyde River and offers 26km, 13km and 6km courses in one long up-and-back lap. Local organisers maneuvered around major building works, and the race started just downstream of the iconic Batemans Bay Bridge. With clear skies and balmy conditions, the race offered a new course in the 2019 calendar, proving popular with series regulars and marathon newbies alike.
The NSW Marathon Series is having a quiet May, with many paddlers heading to Perth to compete at the National Championships at the end of the month. The next race is Burrill Lake on Saturday June 1st.